Ichiro bids a Sayonara to Seattle

For 12 seasons, baseball fans in Seattle witnessed Ichiro Suzuki become a fixture, manning the outfield and breaking records on more occasions than one. Donning a Mariners uniform as recent as yesterday, M's fans were treated to a sight they were unfamiliar with on Monday night as the Japanese star took the field on the opposing side for the first time since he broke onto the big league scene in the U.S.. After helping the Mariners win games for over a decade, Ichiro would turn the tables and help beat them only a day later. With the Mariners fighting to avoid logging the worst record in the American League and most likely on their way to their third straight last place finish in the AL West and this season likely to be his last, Ichiro requested to be traded to a ball club currently in a much better position to make a push for the playoffs. A request Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik would fulfill by shipping him from the last place Mariners (42-56) to the first place Yankees (58-38) who currently boast the best record in the Major Leagues. Though the 10-time All-Star will now shift from playing on the west coast to playing on the east coast, for Ichiro, the move from his old ball club to his new one was as simple as walking from one dugout to the other.

With the New York Yankees in Seattle preparing to kick off game 1 of a 3 game set against the Mariners, there was no plane ticket or bus ride needed as Ichiro traded in his old M's uniform for Yankee pinstripes. And in his first game playing with his new ball club, plugged in as the number eight hitter, he would go up against the only other Major League franchise he's ever known. After being announced over the intercom by the public address announcer for the first time as a visitor, the 38-year old future Hall of Famer was given a standing ovation from the 29,911 fans in attendance at Seattle's Safeco Field before taking a bow and waving his helmet to the Mariners faithful. Those cheers would eventually die down as Ichiro singled in his first at-bat and stole second before finishing the ballgame 1-for-4 as the Yankees went on to win by a final of 4-1. 

Having struggled last year as well as the the first half of the 2012 season, hitting a career-low .261 thus far, Ichiro and the Yankees are hoping that plugging him back into a pennant race will help revitalize him at the plate. And while Yankees GM Brian Cashman isn't expecting the 38-year old to turn into the Ichiro of old who was winning batting titles in 2001 and 2004, his addition into the lineup is one the Bronx Bombers could definitely use with their speedy outfielder Brett Gardner likely to remain on the shelf for the remainder of the season as he's scheduled to undergo arthroscopic elbow surgery next week and Nick Swisher temporarily sidelined with a hip injury. In the final year of his contract with a Mariners ball club that was going nowhere but down, Ichiro sought a brighter future for the organization by helping them rebuild and get younger with right-handed pitching prospects D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar as well as cash considerations in exchange for himself as well as allow manager Eric Wedge to give playing time to another player in the outfield.

The deal is one that benefits both parties as Ichiro lands in a position to finally add a World Series ring to an already impressive resume which includes 2 American League batting titles, 10 Gold Glove Awards, 10 All-Star appearances, 1 All-Star Game MVP Award, 3 Silver Slugger Awards, 1 AL MVP Award and an AL Rookie of the Year Award. And that's not including all of his achievements in the nine years he played prior to the big league while in Japan.

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From Red to White, The Return of Youkilis

One team's trash is another team's treasure. That could simply be said for former Boston Red Sox third baseman and fan favorite Kevin Youkilis who when healthy this season didn't quite produce the way first year skipper Bobby Valentine had envisioned. Hitting a dismal .233 with 4 home runs and 14 RBI's in 42 games for the Boston ball club, it was no secret that Youkilis was in a funk, nor was he seeing eye to eye with his manager as the two shared a rocky relationship. After losing his starting job to the hot-hitting rookie Will Middlebrooks, the once upon a time spark plug for the Red Sox was at an all time low. And not far behind was his stock. With nowhere else to go on the baseball diamond after a failed experiment at first base which seemed to only make him struggle more at the plate, Red Sox GM Ben Cherington had no other option than to trade him. 

With several ball clubs interested in the 33-year old veteran in his ninth season, it was the Chicago White Sox who landed Youk in hopes of solving their problem at third base in exchange for pitcher Zach Stewart and utility man Brent Lillibridge with the Red Sox agreeing to pay $5.5 Million of Youkilis' salary. In his final at-bat as a member of the Red Sox, Youkilis would treat the Boston faithful to the perfect farewell, hitting a triple before being pinch ran for, leading to a standing ovation and a curtain call which served as a storybook ending for what was a memorable nine-year tenure with a Red Sox franchise he helped win two World Series titles. And after only a few games and a handful at-bats in a White Sox uniform, it appeared that a change of scenery and a different color of sox was all the 3-time All-Star needed to be rejuvenated at the plate as he made his presence felt with an immediate impact.

Having hit .353 with 4 homers, 15 RBI's, 13 runs scored and 11 walks over 13 games in July, including 5 hits in 14 at-bats in Boston against his former team where the return was just as welcoming as it was emotional, White Sox GM Kenny Williams and the South Siders appear to have struck gold with their most recent addition. With the White Sox currently atop the AL Central in a tie with the division-rival Detroit Tigers who were expected to run away with the division coming into the season, Youkilis' bat just might be Chicago's key to making the postseason where they haven't been since 2008. That'll all depend on whether or not he can stay healthy. With trip after trip to the disabled-list it seems, Youkilis, a career .286 hitter, has averaged just 119 games from 2009-2011.


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Melky's Memorable First Half

Since the Giants ball club has been around dating back to the late 1800's as one of baseball's oldest teams, there's been few players to play for the franchise who've had a better first half of a season than Melky Cabrera. Instead of hitting home runs left and right, Cabrera instead awed fans by collecting hits at a torrid pace. After logging one of the best months by a Giant in franchise history by surpassing the great Willie Mays' mark of 49 hits in the month of May before later tying Randy Winn the very next day for the most hits in a single month by a Giant (SF era) with 51, Cabrera was named to the 2012 All-Star Game where he led all National League outfielders in votes with more than 7.5 Million.


Having led the Major League in hits with 119, while most players cooled off during the All-Star break, the 27-year old native from the Dominican picked up right where he left off in Tuesday's Midsummer Classic by collecting the game's first hit in the top of the first inning, lacing a single to left-center field off of Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander. After coming around to score on an RBI double by Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun later in the inning, Cabrera watched his Giants teammate Pablo Sandoval get in on the action by hitting a triple off the wall in right which cleared the bases and gave the NL All-Stars a commanding 4-0 lead before adding another run in the inning thanks to an RBI single from St. Louis' Matt Holliday which scored Sandoval. Having piled on 5-runs against last year's reigning AL Cy Young and MVP Award winner after only the first frame, the game was well over and decided. But Melky wouldn't abandon the fans of Kansas City who watched him have a breakout season the year before in a Royals uniform without giving them a show. 

After tacking on another run in the fourth inning, Cabrera put the finishing touches on the ballgame by launching a 2-run homer to left field off of Texas' Matt Harrison, giving the National League an 8-run lead they wouldn't surrender or even allow the American League to bite into. Finishing the game 2-for-3 while driving in and scoring 2 runs, Cabrera was named All-Star MVP as voted on by the fans, edging out fellow San Francisco teammate Pablo Sandoval (1-for-2, 1 Run, 2 RBI) and Milwaukee's Ryan Braun (2-for-3, 1 Run, 1 RBI). With his mother and grandmother in attendance to catch his very first All-Star appearance, the two got to share the field with Melky as he was awarded his MVP hardware along with the keys to a new car. 2012 marks the sixth time a member of the Giants was named All-Star MVP, including Bobby Bonds who took home MVP honors for his performance in the 1973 Midsummer Classic which was also played in Kansas City, tying the Baltimore Orioles for the most All-Star MVP Awards.

Joining Melky in this year's All-Star Game was Giants pitcher Matt Cain who started the game and threw 2-shutout innings before being awarded the win, catcher Buster Posey and the aforementioned Pablo Sandoval, tying the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals for the most players named to NL All-Star team with four. Having amassed a robust .353 batting average which trails only Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen for tops in the league, Cabrera's currently on pace to tie if not set a career-high in Home Runs, RBI's, Runs and Stolen Bases set last year with KC. And in case everything he's done during the first half of the season was somehow missed, showcasing his talent at the All-Star Game in front of a national audience should be enough to open the eyes of Giants GM Brian Sabean and convince him to sign the outfielder to a multi-year deal before he hits the free-agent market when his contract expires this coming winter. Melky and co. will begin the second half of the season on Friday night at home against the Houston Astros, trailing the arch-rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Western Division by only 1/2 a game. 

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Lakers fill Point-Guard void with veteran Nash

With the Lakers' Ramon Sessions fleeing Los Angeles by deciding not to exercise his $4.5 Million player option for the 2012 season in hopes of signing a more lucrative contract elsewhere, the Lakers were left on the outside looking in at the point-guard position with the exception of Steve Blake. Refusing to lose sleep over the matter, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak wasted little time to work his magic as the franchise has appeared to have now found their man as long-time rivals Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant will now join forces in Tinseltown.

Having  faced one another for well over a decade now in the Western Conference since both being drafted in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft, there's very few players currently in the league who've become as well acquainted with one another than Bryant and Nash. And until this past Wednesday, fans would have to wait until the All-Star Game to see Kobe and Nash playing alongside one another. That is no longer the case as the Lakers have agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Phoenix Suns which will send Steve Nash to L.A. where he'll ink a three-year deal worth an estimated $27 Million in exchange for first round picks in the 2013 and 2015 Draft as well as second round picks in 2013 and 2014. Though the addition of Nash makes the Lakers look that much older on paper and fails to fit the ideal description of head coach Mike Brown's defensive-minded ball club, he brings with him a dribbling and passing ability that hasn't been seen in L.A. in decades. He's also pretty good at shooting. Not since the Showtime Lakers which featured a backcourt ran by a guy named Ervin Magic Johnson have the Lake Show had a point-guard of this magnitude.

Many skeptics have already begun to question if Kobe and Nash can co-exist and believe the two sharing the floor on the same squad won't necessarily work. They're wrong and here's why; Not in the history of his tenure with the Lakers (16 seasons) has Kobe had a point-guard capable of distributing the ball, not to mention draw attention and run the offense quite like Nash can. With Bryant aware now more than ever that he can no longer put the team on his back and carry them to another NBA title, he'll do everything it takes to get that sixth ring. Even if that means handing over the keys to the offense to a 38-year old guy that has made 8 All-Star teams and has won 2-NBA MVP Awards. If the Lakers had acquired any other 38-year old I would've opposed, but Steve Nash has proven that he still has enough juice left in the tank to fill L.A.'s point-guard needs as he still managed to average 12.5 points and 10.7 assists per game last year which ranked second in the league despite being among the oldest active players in the game today.

With the roster the Lakers currently have, Nash will have plenty of options to dish to on offense with both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in the post. And while the deal gives Laker fans something they've been without for far too long -- a legit point-guard, what it doesn't give them, however, is the right to be dubbed the team to beat in the Western Conference. At least not until they can prove that they can go toe to toe with a much quicker and younger Oklahoma City Thunder squad that will remain the consensus favorite to represent the Western Conference in next year's NBA Finals, something they'll be even hungrier for this time around having now tasted defeat. That could all change, however, if the Lakers are able to finally land Orlando's Dwight Howard who they've flirted with on numerous occasions and are once again surfacing in the trade-o-sphere as a possible destination. 

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Mr. Perfect

With a major contribution in helping the Giants claim their first ever Word Series title in 2010 since the ball club moved from New York to San Francisco in 1956, there's been little that starting pitcher Matt Cain and the Giants have been yet to accomplish in the franchise's rich 100+ year history. But a little more than two months after signing the right-handed workhorse to a blockbuster 5-year, $112.5 Million deal, the 27-year old pitcher rewarded the franchise with something they've never seen before. Though the ball club has been on the giving end of 14 no-hitters which is tied for the fourth most by a team in MLB history, never before has there been a player to throw a perfect game while donning the orange and black. But on June 13, not only would Cain register a perfecto, but he would also toss one of the most dominant pitching performances the game of baseball has ever seen. 

With three career one-hitters under his belt including one earlier this season against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Giants fans knew if anyone on the current roster had the stuff to throw a perfect game it was Matt Cain. And in front of a sellout crowd at San Francisco's AT&T Park against the Houston Astros, Cain would do just that. Facing the minimum of 27 batters and preventing the Astros from getting a single man on base, Cain notched just the 22nd perfect game in MLB history. And though the 2012 season was already treated to a perfecto thanks to Chicago's Phillip Humber, to say Cain's feat was better would be an understatement. Proving just how dominant he was, Cain didn't fall behind to a single 2-0 count all game long. Even more impressive was that he fanned a career-high 14 Houston hitters. Half of Cain's punch outs coming by way of the swinging variety while the other half struck out looking. The 14-strikeouts was also the most K's ever in a perfect game, tying the mark set by Sandy Koufax of the arch-rival Dodgers who struck out 14 Chicago Cubs in 1965. Not to be overlooked was the stellar game called by Cain's battery mate Buster Posey and outfielder Gregor Blanco who's diving grab in the seventh inning to preserve the gem was arguably the best catch we've seen from a Giant in recent years.

Notoriously known for being on the receiving end of poor run support for a majority of his career in the big leagues which has translated to a poor and undeserving win-loss record for Cain, Giants hitters would have no trouble getting runs on the board this time around as they set a record for the most runs of support in a perfect game by tacking on 10-runs. Ironically, the game was also the win that put Matt Cain over the .500 mark in his career (76-75), a mark that Giants fans should only see expand from here on. Having been one of the most underrated and under appreciated pitchers in the game today while in the shadow of teammate and 2-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum for the greater part of the last few seasons despite logging a number of productive years of his own including two All-Star campaigns in 2009 and 2011, Cain's recent domination coupled with Lincecum's struggles this season just might help Cain solidify himself as the ace of the Giants pitching staff moving forward. 

On pitch no. 125, Cain would get the pinch-hitting Jason Castro to hit a ground ball to third baseman Joaquin Arias who off balanced rifled a strike to the first baseman Brandon Belt for the 27th out of the ball game. Sticking the ball in his back pocket, Belt then raised his arms before joining the rest of his teammates in mobbing Cain on the pitchers mound as the team celebrated in a similar way they did just two years ago when winning the World Series, showering the man of the hour with cans of beer. The coolest part, however, was that Matt's wife Chelsea stood and watched from the stands before greeting and congratulating him first hand near the Giants dugout.

For Giants and baseball fans alike, this will be one of those games/events that we tell our children and grandchildren that we had the privilege to watch. At least I will. 


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Road to the 2012 NBA Finals & Prediction

With both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals coming to an end, the table is now set for the 2012 NBA Finals. And like last year's Finals which featured plenty of drama-filled storylines from LeBron James being unable to follow through on his promise of bringing Miami a title, to he and teammate Dwayne Wade mocking Dallas Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki for his late game heroics in Game 4 despite having a fever of 101 degrees, this year's series should be no different. Though the storylines differ from last season, there shouldn't be any shortage of excitement as fans will be treated to what's expected to be an all-out battle between a high-octane offense in the Oklahoma City Thunder and a defensive juggernaut in the Miami Heat. Not to mention the series will showcase arguably the best two players in the league (Kevin Durant and LeBron James) facing off against one another.

The road these two teams took to get here, however, is a bit one-sided as far as which has been more impressive. Of coarse no path to the Finals is an easy one, but to say the Thunder's journey was a more difficult one than Miami's would be an understatement. While the first round of the NBA Playoffs saw the Miami Heat face an underachieving New York Knicks team which dropped the first three games until finally claiming Game 4 before eventually being eliminated in 5, Oklahoma City made quick work of the defending World Champion Mavericks by completing a four game sweep. The Conference Semifinals featured the Heat against an Indiana Pacers squad which stole home court advantage and took a 2-to-1 series lead before falling three straight. The Thunder on the other hand faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers, but aside from Kobe Bryant's valiant effort to try and put his team on his back and carry them to another championship, the combination of speed and youth proved to be too much for a banged up Laker team as OKC prevailed in 5 games.

For Miami, the Conference Finals would prove to be their most difficult challenge yet. After winning the first two in Miami, the series would shift to Boston where the Heat would lose Games 3 and 4 as well as Game 5 back in South Beach. With their backs against the wall facing elimination, the Heat would need a Hall of Fame-like performance out of LeBron James in Game 6. And with 45 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists, they would get just that as LeBron and co. forced a decisive Game 7 to be played in Miami where the Heat came alive in the second half and never looked back. As for the Thunder, they'd have to take on the daunting task of having to play the number one seeded San Antonio Spurs who tied the Chicago Bulls for the best overall record in the NBA (50-16). And with Games 1 & 2 in the books, Thunder head coach Scott Brook's team appeared to have finally met their match in a deep, veteran-filled Spurs team, facing an 0-2 deficit. But a trip back to their home court coupled with the two game disadvantage would be the perfect wake up call for Kevin Durant and company as OKC would win the next four, sending the Spurs home packing earlier than they would've hoped for the second straight year as the no. 1 seed. 

Prediction: With the Thunder appearing to be clicking on all cylinders, for Erik Spoelstra's Miami Heat team their toughest task might be what lies a head. With this year's MVP LeBron James expected to draw plenty of attention on offense, it'll be up to Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and the rest of the Miami Heat cast to step up and do their part. LeBron hasn't necessarily duplicated his MVP-like stature on the biggest stage of them all in the Finals in his first two trips there having lost last year against the Mavs and in 2006 to the San Antonio Spurs while with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but as of late he's been playing on a level unmatched by the opposition. And unless the Thunder find an answer for him, they might be sitting in the locker with their heads down while Miami pops bottles of champagne in celebration by series end. But with such a young cast of talent led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, I don't think that'll be the case. And with the ball in their court owning home court advantage, all signs point towards the Thunder coming out on top given they're yet to lose a home game during these Playoffs (8-0). And while I see the series going the distance if not six games at the very least, I've got the Thunder prevailing and being crowned as this year's NBA Champions with Kevin Durant writing a chapter in the history books as the Finals MVP. 

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Mets capture first No-Hitter thanks to Johan

June 1, 2012 will forever be remembered in New York Mets lore as the day the franchise was finally treated to their first no-hitter some 50 seasons after bringing baseball to the borough of Queens. And though it took them 8,020 games to finally get one, the Mets organization and their fans wouldn't have it any other way. After witnessing Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver flirt with a no-hitter on numerous occasions during his 12-year tenure with the ball club only to see him accomplish the feat in his second season with the Cincinnati Reds, the Mets can finally say they have their own to celebrate.

Coming into Spring Training, one of the more frequently asked questions in Mets camp was whether or not starting pitcher Johan Santana would be able to pitch like the Johan Santana of old, much less return to a big league mound. A 4-time All-Star and 2-time Cy Young Award winner, Santana was sidelined the entire 2011 season while recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent in September of 2010. Off to a stellar start to begin his 2012 campaign, what the Venezuelan born pitcher would achieve on a brisk Friday night in Flushing, New York against the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals was something nobody saw coming, not to mention something Mets fans never thought they'd experience. After tossing a complete-game shutout just six days earlier, Santana would give Mets fans something they've been waiting 51 seasons for -- a no-hitter.

Prior to Friday's game, Mets skipper Terry Collins had a pitch limit of 110 in mind for his 33-year old recovering hurler, but given the circumstances, Johan returning to the mound despite exceeding that number with a chance to log the first no-no in Mets franchise history was just as important as it was dangerous. Already with 122 pitches thrown heading into the 9th inning, it would take him a career-high 134 pitches before getting David Freese to strikeout swinging for the final out of the game to seal the 8-0 victory and the Mets first ever no-hitter. Though Santana baffled eight Cardinal hitters by way of the strikeout against five walks, he would need a bit of help from his defense. Like almost every no-hitter there's at least one jaw-dropping catch or play made that keeps the no-no in tact. Johan's gem was no different as an amazing catch by left fielder Mike Baxter would preserve Santana's no-hit bid. On pitch no. 101 in the seventh, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina would send an 0-0 offering deep into left-field and into the direction of Baxter who on his horse made a spectacular catch on the warning track just before crashing into the wall shoulder and head first, causing him to be helped off the field as he was unable to finish the game with a left shoulder contusion.

Unfortunately there's gonna be those who think the no-hitter deserves an asterisk and is tainted by the controversial call on a hit towards the third base line that was called foul by third-base umpire Adrian Johnson. Upon further review it appeared that the ball struck off the bat of former Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran kicked up some chalk just behind third base, causing Cardinals skipper Mike Matheney to come out from the visiting dugout to argue the call to no avail. Beltran would ground out sharply to third on the very next pitch, helping Santana move one batter closer to making history. Of the 27,089 fans in attendance at Citi Field, many will be telling their grand kids one day that they were there to witness Johan make history without even daring to mention the controversy that almost robbed Mets fans of finally being able to say, "we've got one."

How fitting that the Mets would get their first no-hitter in franchise history on the year in which they're celebrating 50 seasons of Mets baseball. What makes Santana's no-hitter that much more remarkable is that the Mets haven't been a franchise starving of talented pitching. In fact pitching is probably what the franchise has been best remembered for. With such pitching greats as Nolan Ryan, Doc Gooden, Tom Seaver, Ron Darling, Warren Spahan, Tom Glavine and Pedro Martinez among others, it's amazing the Mets have gone this long without ever logging a no-hitter. Santana's gem leaves the San Diego Padres as the only franchise without a no-hitter. Is it too soon for Mets fans to be asking when they'll be treated to their first perfect game?


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Clippers' season a success despite falling short

In what's been a memorable year for the Los Angeles Clippers who went from being a sub .500 ball club (32-50) just a year ago to a 5th seed and advancing to the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs this season, the franchise was struck with an early exit. After a back and forth battle which featured a decisive game 7 victory on the road against the 4th seeded Memphis Grizzlies, the Clippers were given the daunting task of having to go up against the no. 1 seeded San Antonio Spurs. Fresh off their sweep of the Utah Jazz in the first round, San Antonio's veteran experience proved to be too much for a banged up Clippers squad who saw their 2012 campaign end much sooner than many would've hoped. After tying the Chicago Bulls for a league-best record of 50-16 during the regular season, the Gregg Popovich-led Spurs continued doing what they've done all season long -- winning, by moving to a perfect record of 8-0 this post-season and pulling off the sweep of the Clippers, serving as a blockade to L.A.'s magical run.

Despite being eliminated, the Clippers' season ended with their heads held high. Having been in the shadow of their Los Angeles counterparts -- the Lakers who the Clippers share a venue with, L.A.'s "other team" was given a different wrap in 2012 thanks in large part to a newly constructed roster which featured newcomers Kenyon Martin, Chauncey Billups, Mo Williams, Caron Butler, Nick Young, and All-Star Chris Paul. Coupled with returning players DeAndre Jordan and the high-flying Blake Griffin, the Clippers would showcase one of the West's better teams. Unfortunately, a season-ending injury sustained to Chauncey Billups would put a dent in the Clippers' season and spell doom for their chances of winning the franchise's first NBA title. Had Billups been healthy, there's no telling how the seeding would've shaped up and where the Clippers would be right now. My guess is they'd still be alive and well. Instead the organization and their fans will have to sit back and wait alongside the 26 other teams who's season has also ended. 

Although they might not have reached the ultimate goal this season, 2012 was still a success for the Clippers who not only gave their fans something to cheer about other than a Blake Griffin highlight-dunk, but also made only their eighth trip to the post-season in franchise history and fifth time since moving to Los Angeles in 1984. And with the nucleus of talent they have now, a season of experience having played with one another can't hurt and should only help the team in 2013. The biggest question mark regarding the team, however, is whether or not head coach Vinny Del Negro who's been at the helm in L.A. since 2010 will be the one on the sidelines drawing up plays for a fourth season. While the head coaching position begs a question, one thing that is certain is that the Clippers won't be taken lightly by other teams heading into the season like they have been in years passed. 


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Bryce Harper's wild first two weeks in the Majors

Though it's only been two weeks since the Washington Nationals decided to call up their 2010 number one overall draft pick and phenom Bryce Harper, there's not much the 19-year old hasn't done already at the big league level in what looks to be the beginning of a promising career. Making his much anticipated Major League debut on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Harper wasted little time to record his first big league hit as he did so in his third at-bat of the ballgame with a double to left-center field over the head of Matt Kemp before later adding a sacrifice-fly. With one out in the bottom of the seventh inning and runners on first and second, the Las Vegas native and LVHS alum would also showcase his cannon of an arm after fielding an A.J. Ellis single and throwing a strike to catcher Wilson Ramos in time to snag the runner at home, but Ramos failed to hang on to the ball, allowing the run to score. Unfortunately Harper's debut would then be overshadowed by the red-hot Matt Kemp who stole the show with a walk-off home run in the 10th inning as the Nationals fell to the Dodgers, 4-3. 

After receiving a warm welcome from the Nationals fan base during Harper's first home stand in Washington, Cole Hamels of the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies gave Harper a welcome of his own in front of a nationally televised audience with a bean ball to the lower back on the first pitch he saw. Later in the inning after advancing to third on a single by Jayson Werth, Harper would get a bit of revenge by stealing home plate on an attempted pick-off throw to first. Among those to congratulate Harper on his rare steal was teammate Mark DeRosa who's been nursing a sore left oblique muscle since late-April. DeRosa aggravated that same injury when the two exchanged high-fives, extending his time on the shelf. But similar to his first big league hit, his first steal would come in a losing effort as the Nats went on to lose the ballgame, 9-3. The biggest news however, would come after the game when Hamels admitted to intentionally throwing at Harper. "I was trying to hit him," Hamels said. "I'm not going to deny it." Little did Hamels know his comments would land him a 5-game suspension issued out by the Commissioners office as well as some backlash dished out by a variety of managers throughout the league who were opposed to Hamels purposely throwing at Harper for no apparent reason. 

And though Hamels' beanball was received without leaving a cool battle wound to brag about and show his friends, the mark left by Harper's bat tells a different tale. On a night he went 0-for-5 against the Reds, Harper vented some frustration by swinging a bat against the dugout wall which ended up bouncing back and catching the 2010 Golden Spikes Award winner right above the eye. With blood running down the side of his cheek, the cut which would require ten stitches looked like something out of a Gladiator scene with Harper's face-paint and eye black the only thing missing. If anything, that shot to the head was just what Harper needed to wake up the sleeping giant from his slump. Two games later, Harper would connect for his first Major League home run with a solo shot to center field off of Padres pitcher Tim Stauffer in the third inning, worthy of a curtain call. And after rounding the bases and receiving high-fives in the dugout from his teammates without hurting anybody this time, Harper ran up the stairs and acknowledged the fans still standing and applauding the 19-year old on what should be his first of many round-trippers. 

So just to recap the first few weeks of Bryce Harper's Major League endeavors, the kid has already stolen home, has a pair of home runs under his belt, was intentionally thrown at, injured a teammate, stirred up a bit of controversy and received his first medical bill (ten stitches). Pretty event-filled if you asked me. And with a young crop of talented hitters in Harper, Wilson Ramos and Ryan Zimmerman as well as veterans Jayson Werth and Michael Morse and pitchers Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmerman in the rotation, the Nationals' rebuilding phase appears to have finally payed off with the ball club currently sitting atop the NL East at 22-13 and beginning to play a winning brand of baseball the city of Washington has waited so desperately to see since the organization relocated from Montreal and changed their name from the Expos in 2005. With almost all of their top prospects panning out at the Major League level and other organizations within the division only getting older and beginning to deteriorate, it wouldn't surprise me if the Nationals end up taking off in a similar way that the Tampa Bay Rays did a few years ago in '08. 


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Humber, Weaver hurling History

27 Up, 27 Down - Though we're still in the early stages of the 2012 MLB season only a month in, there's been no shortage of excitement as we've seen not one, but two of the game's more remarkable achievements already. Unless you're a fan of the New York Mets who selected him out of Rice University with the third overall pick in the 2004 Draft or one of the teams he bounced around with before eventually landing in the south side of Chicago where he's fit nicely as the no. 5 starter, it's unlikely you've heard the name Philip Humber more than once or twice if at all. At least that was the case until Saturday April 21 when Humber pitched his way into the history books by throwing the 21st perfect game in MLB history. Needing only 96 pitches, Humber struck out 9 batters while tossing the third perfect game in White Sox franchise history (19th no-hitter) by blanking the Seattle Mariners in their own home of Safeco Field by a final score of 4-0.

After a successful college career, Humber was thought to be one of the bright up and coming talents in the game. But some early struggles at the Minor League level coupled with Tommy John surgery would keep him on the shelf for awhile, forcing him to claw and fight his way back onto a big league roster. It wasn't until January of 2011 when Humber was given another chance after being claimed off waivers by Chicago where he found pitching coach Don Cooper. The two gelled immediately and worked on a few adjustments in Humber's pitching mechanics which proved to be vital in the right-hander's turnaround, helping the 29 year old Humber log a 9-9 win-loss record and a 3.75 ERA in 26 starts last season, his first full year in the majors.

Having gone the first eight frames without allowing a single three-ball count, it seemed almost inevitable that Humber would complete the feat without the fear of walking a single batter. However, Humber's bid for a perfecto was threatened not once, but twice in the ninth inning when Mariners outfielder Michael Saunders drew threw consecutive balls before eventually striking out to lead off the inning. It was then that you almost knew the Baseball Gods wouldn't let anything tarnish Humber's gem. And after the pinch-hitting John Jaso flew out to right field, it was all up to Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan who stepped up to the plate and worked the count full. The final pitch would also be the most controversial as Humber challenged Ryan with a slider that bounced into the dirt. Ryan attempted to check his swing, but swung just enough to convince home plate umpire Brian Runge that he went around. Instead of running to first, Ryan argued the call, allowing White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski to throw the ball to first for the final out.

After getting the 27th out, Humber's teammates poured from out of the dugout and raced in from the outfield to mob him on top of the mound where they celebrated his remarkable accomplishment before later receiving a congratulatory phone call from longtime fan of the White Sox, President Barack Obama.

Leave it to Weaver - Since the Angels' busy off-season which not only brought All-Star's Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson aboard, but also a ton of hype along with them, Halo fans have had little to cheer about after getting off to a poor 7-15 start prior to their series with the lowly Minnesota Twins. But a series sweep and a no-hitter could be the shot in the arm Angels manager Mike Socia and company have been looking for in hopes of getting the team back on track. And with Halos ace Jered Weaver on the mound, the team was able to accomplish both. Less than two weeks after 2012 saw its first no-hitter thrown by Chicago's Phil Humber which came in the form of a perfect game, Weaver got in on the fun by twirling a gem of his own.

With 27,288 fans in attendance and on their feet cheering on the Northridge, California native, many of which were friends and family of Weaver's, the 29-year old right-hander made history after getting Twins shorstop Alexi Castilla to fly-out to deep right field for the final out of the ballgame, sealing the no-hitter and romping Minnesota in the process, 9-0. Weaver's line included 9 K's and 1 BB on 121 pitches with his only blemishes coming in the form of a strikeout-passed ball by catcher Chris Iannetta and a 2-out walk in the 7th when Josh Willingham reached base safely. Obviously not as impressive, but dominant nonetheless was the Angels offense who's bats awoken to tie a season-high in runs with 9 and set a season-high in hits with 15. Both contributed to help complete the sweep of the Twins and get the Angels their first three-game winning-streak of the season.

Angels fans are no stranger to the no-no as they've seen 10 Halos accomplish the feat in the ball club's 51-year existence, one of those coming last year from Ervin Santana who tossed a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians. Weaver almost joined that club several years ago when he and Angels reliever Jose Arredondo combined to no-hit the cross-town rival Los Angeles Dodgers on the road through 8 innings, but still lost the game, 1-0, preventing him from etching his name into the record books much earlier. With both the hitting and pitching doing their part and finally coming alive it seems, could this be a springboard to get the Angels out of their last place funk and back into the division race? The way the Angels clubhouse celebrated Weaver's no-no, you would've thought they just won game 7 of the World Series, something many analysts and fans of baseball predicted they'd do this season.


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